The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-30

stars came out, il grew darker and darker,
the hours crept slowly by-it was midnight,
md we were at the sandbar. A dark OBJ
ject was crouching ut the waters edge.
sprang forward. assisted Dolores into our
boat, which was soon moving rapidly down
stream with Dan and me at the cars.
Toward daylight we passed the haunted
house. Dolores said not word, but gazed
sadly mt the great pile of moss-grown logs
until the boat went round a bend in the
river called "the devils elbow"
Dolores told us her story as the boat
flew over the waters.
She had been carried away by the In
dams who murdered her parents. Her
story led me 10 believe that the murder
was committed not for revenge, but for
money, by Indians hired and led by two
white men, one of whom Dolores described
| SO infinitely that / was convinced il was
my guardian, Mr.. Charner. She could say
but little regarding the other white rene
gade, but if Diego Dan could have read
my thoughts, dare say he would have fed
me to the fishes of the San Juan with scant
words of warning or regret.
| Her Indian captors had always treated
her with great kindness and respect, as it
was understood she was TO become the wife
of the chiefs young son, the Mountain
Lion. This she determined never to sub
| NIT to, and only "A few DAYS ago had es-
capped from the Lion only to be picked up
on the plains by the Coyote, who soon ex-
| pressed desire TO have her grace his own
wigwam. In her pleadings for mercy to
the merciless red brute she had Glanced
to mention the name of her fathers old
| friend, Diego Dan, who had often been
kind TO her. Coyote Mt once treated her as
daughter, and continued TO show her
| l.. l.
ave may be in danger, children" said
Dan, arranging his weapons within easy
reach. The Mountain Lions camp is be-
low here, and he may come this way in
search-there they are!"
Three large canoes, filled with Indians,
pushed out from among the shadows of the
cottonwoods that just here fringed the
stream and came rapidly toward us.
ave must fight" said Diego Dan. calmly.
"Stay behind us, Dolores they will fire in
a moment"
They did so without effect. We fired;
my bullet sent an Indian spirit to the happy
hunting ground, while Dams shot simply
broke both legs of the foremost brave, who
tumbled overheard 10 crown.
The firing was now inces ant. The In
dams were poor marksmen, while each
yolley from our boat decreased the number
the Hualapai tribe on crutches had they
not come i'll closer where we could use our
revolvers, when they fell faster still. At
sholt range Dan shot TO kill.
Pm gone" Diego Dan remarked, in a
matter fact tone, as he fell forward
pierced by bullet; "but don't surrender"
Dolores had caught up his pistol and
was discharging it with deadly effect at the
nearest Indian boat.
"See!" she cried, there is the young
chief l will be forced to marry if we are
taken. Oh! he is aiming mt you!"
But Dolores saved me, for she fired first,
and her bullet passed through his body.
The last thing | remembered was seeing
him fall head first into the water-and all
was dark.
For days and days it was so, and then 1
came to know myself CHASTITY, weak spec
ter, a captive in an Indian camp. The first
object my weak eyes res,ed upon when l
awoke from that long, deathlike sleep was
woman sitting beside my couch. AS rea-
son slowly asserted its reign, aud my mind
became clearer, | recognized Dolores; but
l was too weak to speak to her.
Slowly the memory of the recent event
full past came back to me; but where was
Diego Dan2
The Indians with whom we had the bat
tie were in pursuit of Dolores at the time.
After / fell they ceased firing; we were
soon all transferred TO their boats and taken
before their chief. Dan was taken away
with another branch of the tribe. l soon
came TO know the fate destined for me. /
was TO remain with the Indians in place of
the young chief whom Dolores had shot,
and l was TO take Dolores for my wife-or
die. In case | chose the latter alternative
which L don't suppose the old chief
thought probable-he would make Dolores
his own wife.
| became the chiefs son, under the name
of Chain Lightning (at least, they gave me
an Indian name which meant that, and he
sent Dolores To my tent. He seemed pleased
with me, and was glad to have my dear
love near me, where / could watch over
and protect her.
The news came few days later that
Diego Dan had escaped. Fearing that he
would return with help to rescue Dolores
and me the Mountain Lion decided to go
out upon the Eastern Arizona plains, long
way across the country. Dolores and | de-
termined 10 escape.
We did not wait long. One dark MI hit
crept softly up behind sentinel. and, with
heavy blow from the flat side of my tom
ahawk, knocked him silent. We reached
the river, where the boats lay ut anchor
quickly cut them all loose, except one into
which We stepped, and pushed off down
stream. She managed the oars equally as
well rs l. and our little boat made the
waters fairly bubble as we glided rapidly
down the current. | had no fears of beng
overtaken.
The night was intensely dark; vivid light
ming and thunder indicated the approach
of n storm. 1t came soon--one of those ter
rible rain-storm known in Arizona in mid
summer-and the wind tossed our boat
from wave to wave like dry leaf. Should
il sink knew we would both be drowned,
as | was unable to swim and could render
Dolores no assistance.
passed my arm around her and pressed
her close to my breast; she was very calm
and did not shrink from me. We had
known each other only short time, it is
true; but, under the circumstances, is it
az all strange that we loved each other? /
was quite hero in her eyes-and in my
own. / knew not then that the Coyote had
been kindly caring for her until Diego Dan
should come, in response to a message
the chief had sent, to take her awav-and
which was the cause of Dams present ex-
cursion. Such was the case, however The
Coyote did not wish to provoke war with
the Mountain Lion, so he and Dan decided
that / should be permitted to kidnap the
fair captive. My accidental discovery
greatly aided thor scheme, and all would
1 n